Vivian Maier was an enigmatic American street photographer whose remarkable body of work was discovered posthumously. Born in New York City in 1926, Maier worked as a nanny throughout her life while pursuing her passion for photography in her spare time. Over the course of five decades, she took more than 150,000 photographs, primarily in Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, though she also traveled and photographed around the world.
Maier was intensely private and never published or exhibited her work during her lifetime. In fact, many of her negatives were never even developed. It wasn't until 2007, when a Chicago collector named John Maloof purchased a box of Maier's negatives at an auction, that her extraordinary talent came to light.
Today, Vivian Maier is recognized as one of the greatest street photographers of the 20th century. Her photographs provide a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of people and places, infused with a unique blend of wit, humor, and humanity. Despite her reclusive nature, Maier's legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world, thanks to the serendipitous discovery of her work and the tireless efforts of those who recognized her genius.
